A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Jermyn police officer who alleged his reputation was damaged after council publicly announced he was fired for failing to obtain first aid re-certification.

Robert Flynn filed suit in November against the police department, mayor and members of council, seeking damages on several counts, including defamation, publication of private matters and portraying him in a false light.

The suit, filed by attorney Edwin Abrahamsen of Scranton, said Mr. Flynn was suspended in June 2012 after he failed to renew his certification, which is required for the job. He later obtained that certification, but the borough refused to reinstate him. Council instead held a meeting on Sept. 13 and voted to fire him.

Mr. Flynn alleged council's public announcement of the reason for his termination, which was reported in a Sept. 14 news article in The Times-Tribune, publicly humiliated him in violation of his constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion dismissed the suit, saying Mr. Flynn failed to meet the legal standard to proceed on the privacy claims, which require a plaintiff show a statement was false and that it "infringed upon his reputation, honor or integrity."

The judge said council's statement was related to a technical aspect of his employment, and not his character.

"The fact the plaintiff was terminated for allegedly failing to obtain his first aid re-certification was not information so intimate or personal that the plaintiff would have a reasonable expectation of privacy in not having that information released to the public," Judge Mannion wrote.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

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